Daily Times

Duran Duran have spent the past decade catching up to their legacy. The ’00s were a period of rebalance, populated by albums that bore traces of the old Duran Duran but ultimately were no more than worn knockoffs of the sound that made them global stars 40 years ago.

With 2011’s All You Need Is Now, the band, with help from superproducer Mark Ronson, crashed into a new decade with the sort of glittering artifice they perfected on classic early ’80s albums like their debut and Rio. Their last album, 2015’s Paper Gods, relied a bit too much on guest collaborators: John Frusciante, Lindsay Lohan, Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers all popped in for a shot.

Their 15th record, Future Past, features some outside help, too – pioneering disco producer Giorgio Moroder, Blur guitarist Graham Coxon, Japanese dance punks Chai and a returning Ronson can be found among the credits. But their presence doesn’t dominate the songs like Paper Gods’ guests did. Instead they help remind Duran Duran of their past.

Opener “Invisible,” with its thrusting synths and glistening backing vocals, recalls the group’s ’80s heyday, right down to the hooky chorus and Simon Le Bon’s familiar wail. “All of You” moves along the same melodic lines as any number of hit songs found on Duran Duran compilations; same goes for the pulsating “Anniversary,” a self-referencing and -mythologizing dance-floor shaker that includes lyrical nods to “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Union of the Snake” and other past singles.

The highs are effervescent. The funky opening spell that dominates ‘All Of You’ segues into the delirious disco that drives The Tove Lo enhanced ‘Give It All Up’. ‘Beautiful Lies’ is an unashamed piece of retro dancefloor flair, and CHAI amplify the ecstatic exuberance of ‘MORE JOY!’ to overwhelming levels.

Yet it’s not all incandescent pop bullseye moments. In truth, ‘Tonight United’ is quite cheesy, and the Bond theme ambiance of ‘Wing’ plods along without ever really raising the pulse – granted, it does shows off Simon le Bon’s still impressive chops.

That’s not to say Future Past is about coasting on their reputation. That album title looks ahead as much as it glances backward, and the music itself aims to combine these moments in time, as well. (The final string of songs is more forward-looking than almost anything else on the album.) But Duran Duran are at their best here when they don’t try to escape their legacy – like how “Tonight United” adopts the new wave bounce of “Planet Earth” for yet another new decade. Embrace it, guys. You’ve earned that right.

Perhaps it helps that ‘Future Past’ is such an outward-looking, communal experience. It is the work of a group resurgent. While many of their peers have opted for merch-stalling fillers as they grind out another Greatest Hits tour, Duran Duran have opted to challenge themselves. Frothy, neon-soaked entertainment, ‘Future Past’ – when it works – is a blast of ridiculous 80s themed fun.